A Better Idea
Chapter Thirty-Six
Disclaimer: These main characters were created by Annie Proulx. I'm just borrowing them for a bit. This story and any errors are all mine.
Author's Note: Faithful Readers, thank you for staying with my vision on this; wanting Jack to live, wanting them to have a life together. That's my answer to Ennis' question, "You got a better idea?"
Late December 1983
Could it be Christmas break already? Bobby was counting the hours before Jenny was to arrive. He just got back from cutting greens with dad 'n Ennis. Gran said she wanted a lot, so they cut a whole pick up load. While out there, they'd sure enough spied the fullest, most perfectly formed fir tree; they tied a red rag on it to mark it so they could go back and find it again. It was perfect for Gran's living room, and they'd cut it tomorrow.
His exams were behind him and he was pretty sure he did okay. He'd taken every math and science class he could get his hands on at his new high school, but there wasn't much to choose from, and there were no college prep classes at all. His academic counselor stressed the importance of him doing well in these classes, but truthfully Bobby couldn't see how solving math equations could ever help him care for a sick horse or cow.
Ever since school started up in September, Jack had kept wondering why Bobby brought home so much more homework up here in Wyoming, than he ever did in Texas. Didn't remember him ever carrying a book home back then. Course, Bobby had not shared his ambitions with his dad 'n Ennis yet, was too afraid of failing to meet his own expectations. If he fell far below reaching his goals, he couldn't face them, didn't want to feel their pity. In the end, he'd not told anyone except Jenny.
Gramma Newsome sent him a brochure about the University of Colorado at Denver in her last letter. She wrote that she is hoping against hope that he chooses to go to CU, and will be close to her in the city. Bobby would like nothing more, but he is holding off making a choice of college until he sees what Jenny decides to do.
Claire is baking Christmas Tree cookies and packing them away for safe keeping. She'd already smacked Bobby's hands twice this morning. Yes, it's true that boy is as bad as his daddy when it comes to cookies, or any sweets for that matter. Bad as both his daddy's, in fact. If she could manage to keep them away from all her "boys", she wanted Jenny to help her ice and decorate them. Maybe they could do that tomorrow. She smiled to herself thinking of having her girls here again. Rolling out the next batch, Claire began humming Little Drummer Boy along with the a.m. radio. She didn't realize she was bouncing to every "pa rum pa pum pum" until she accidentally caught sight of herself in the mirror. She sure was embarrassed and thankful no one saw her acting so . . . so much like a young girl!
In Junior's card she said she wouldn't get off work till the afternoon of the 21st. They are having their Christmas exchange and dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Beers, and Mama and Monroe on that Wednesday night. She and Kurt will stop in Gillette and have Christmas with his family on Thursday, then they will come on up to Lightning Flat on Friday.
If Claire felt a tinge of selfishness over having the girls for most of their Christmas break, she brushed it away, feeling that she had missed having them all their lives, and was due some make up time.
She idly wondered where her husband had gotten off to, but when she saw that it was time to take the next sheet of cookies out of the oven, she promptly forgot about it.
John was sneaking around again. All this week he'd been furtively checking the mail before she could get to it, hiding odds and ends in the barn to escape Claire's eagle eye. He was hammering as quietly as he possibly could do, and was being extra careful. Bobby had run into Gillette for him and bought the non-glare glass and had it cut to the sizes they needed.
This surprise had been in the works for months. While in Riverton, after the wedding trip, Ennis and Jack had gathered Junior, Jenny and Bobby, so the five of them could have their picture made at the Olin Mill's Studio. It was quite the undertaking. It was late August, but they wanted it to look like Christmas. Each of the girls wore a red or green sweater, Bobby had a new black shirt his mother had insisted he buy for school for this winter. Ennis bought a dark green shirt and new bolo tie, and Jack wore his red shirt.
The photo session included lone shots of the girls for their mother, and Bobby alone for his mother. Even Ennis and Jack each had their photo made alone. But the main focus was the five of them together for Gran. After the photographer had finished with the group shots, Jack suggested the kids go get a coke, and they'd be along directly. Jack looked at Ennis with a question in his eyes. "No, Jack, dammit! We been over this and over it. It ain't fittin."
"For me, please Ennis? Just for me to have? You know this is something I've always wanted, Cowboy. Always. And we're right here and . . ."
"Oh, alright. But just one. Ya hear?"
Jack approached the photographer to ask if he would take a few more shots of just the two of them. "Sure thing. I figured that's what you two was wrangling about. Got the films from your session still set up and everything."
"Could we lose the Xmas background and just go with something outdoorsy? Like trees, rocks or maybe a mountain? And George? Could you snap a few in a hurry, so he's not aware of what you're doing? He's shy, you know how it is."
When the backdrop had been changed, George seated Ennis and Jack side by side and asked them to look up and to the right, like they'd spotted an eagle's nest. There wasn't anything scary about that, so Ennis relaxed bit by bit.
George had them stand, shoulders touching, take their hats off and look down into the fake fire in the foreground. Then he had them put their hats back on and wait while he set up the plates for the next shot. This was the good one. They were turned toward each other, straddling the bench, waiting, and Jack asked Ennis how he felt about this so far. He said it was going better than he'd expected. Jack was glad, and the camera caught his smiling response as they looked at each other.
When the proofs arrived six weeks later, they had a difficult time picking a favorite one to have made, so Jack (unbeknownst to Ennis) ordered one of each in a wallet size. But the one of them waiting, not posing, was the one they had made into an 8 by 10 as a memory of how they looked on their wedding trip.
All of these pictures had been kept from Gran until the unveiling of her special Christmas gift, and then she could see them all. John had made a frame out of black walnut, a hardwood, for each person in the family. The best was for Claire. He spent hours polishing them to bring up the natural oils; they were all gleaming and ready. He wrapped them in brown paper (inside-out feed sacks) and wrote the names on with his stub of a pencil he always kept in the barn. He was ever so proud and excited over his contribution to the surprise. John could not remember ever giving a gift to anyone that meant as much as this one did.
On the 24th before lunchtime, Gran took the girls to the Community Center to help make sandwiches, and to serve the home made root beer for the Christmas party. Everyone gathered here each year to bring all the goodies they'd been making for the "needy" of Crook County.
Needy or not, everyone brought what they had to share, so no one went away feeling like a charity case. The tree was being decorated by the children, with construction paper garlands and strings of popcorn. Jack and his dad had strung the lights of every color early last evening, and tested them, each by each. It only took twelve new bulbs to get the strings to light.
Santa showed up as usual with his bag of toys for the good little girls and boys. The adults were grouped around whispering to one another. "Who is it? I don't recognize Santa's deep brown eyes this year, do you?" As for himself, Santa had never had such a spectacular time. He hugged or held on his lap, every single child in turn. And giving them their wrapped gift, he told them he "knew" they'd been very good this year. He made sure they knew that he was proud of them, that they were special to him and to Mrs. Santa.
Jack had wrapped his Xmas gifts for everyone himself. Well, that goes without saying that everyone does that. But Jack had always left all that Christmas stuff to Lureen, and barely noted the passing of the season in years past. This felt to Jack like his first Christmas.
Ennis too; he got into picking out a few small things for his girls: a diary, a hair clip, or a long awaited book. He even did his own wrapping, hiding the gifts so as not to ruin his surprise.
There were cartons shipped from Lureen, wrapped gifts for every member of the family, plus a tin of cashews to add to the festivities. Jack had talked to Lureen ahead of time, asking that she not go all out for Bobby this year, like they had in the past. Didn't want him to stand out like a sore thumb among his school friends.
Everyone got a little something for Christmas that just made them know they were cherished, and that was without much money being spent. There was one slightly expensive gift nestled under the Twist tree. Bobby found a charm bracelet for Jenny when he was in Denver. He'd picked out three charms: a musical note, and a horse to signify both of their dreams for the future, and he added an '83 charm as a remembrance of the year they met.
Christmas dinner was traditionally served in the Twist household on Christmas Eve night. This year was no different. After the blessing was said over the meal, most everyone took the edge off their hunger with their first few bites. "Why is it" someone asked, "we feel we are starving to death from all the good smells wafting around the house, and then we fill up so quickly, we can't even finish the first big plateful?" No one knew, but there was general agreement that it wasn't fair. They opted to have dessert later, in about an hour, and talked about taking a walk to shake it all down. First though, they finished off their holiday meal with a cup of coffee.
"What's your mama and gramma doing today Bobby? Were they hoping you'd share Christmas dinner with them this year? asked Jack.
"Well, guess they would have liked that if it worked out that way, dad. But they have plenty a company for the holiday without worrying about me."
"They do? They haven't had time to get to know anyone in Colorado yet, have they? Is it someone from Texas?"
"Uh, no. It's mama's bo . . . " Bobby looked up at his dad and swallowed a hot mouthful of spiced apple cider. Then he just flushed.
"Your mama has a gentleman friend, Bob?"
"Yessir."
"Well ain't that nice?"
"Ain't that nice, Ennis?"
Ennis wisely kept mum till he saw where this was going.
"Who is it Bobby?"
"Where'd she meet someone so soon after moving up to Denver?"
Jack spieled all that out without taking a single pause or breath.
"Well sir, I believe he lives in her building. He's an airline pilot for United; Denver is his hub. They met at the mailboxes when I was visiting this summer."
"What do you know about him, Bob? You like him?"
"Yeah, dad, Drew seems to be a good guy. He's gone a lot, a course. But from what I've seen, he treats mama right, and she says she enjoys his company."
"His name is Drew?"
"Yeah, Drew Jackson or Johnson, or something like that."
"Well, that's all right then. But does that leave gramma alone too much with your mama dating now?"
"Oh, gosh no, gramma's been dating longer than mom has."
"What?"
"Oh yeah, dad, you remember I told you that gramma took me ice skating at the new Mall there in downtown Denver?"
"Uh huh."
"Well, that's where she met Bruce. He was there with his granddaughter, brought her to skate too, cause she was visiting him from Massachusetts. So we, Lisa and I, skated all afternoon, and she even taught me to skate backwards. When we was all concentrating on skating, they went and got a Cinnabon and a Starbucks. I told you all this on the drive back to Lightning Flat, don't you remember dad?"
"Well, yeah Bob. I remember that you went skating, but you didn't say anything about Gramma Irene finding a boyfriend."
"Gross dad, he's not a boyfriend, he's real old!"
"You know what I mean, Bob. A "Friend"; Gramma Irene found a new friend. What's he like? Bruce, you say?"
"Yes, Bruce . . .uh, I remember he has two first names. Bruce Gregory, or Bruce Gregg. Yeah, that's it. Bruce Gregg. He's a retired contractor, seems like I remember."
"You keeping in touch with this Lisa, Bob? Is she sweet on you?"
"Oh, we write some. But no, Lisa's crazy about some guy named Jake! Jake said this, and Jake did that. She even sends me pictures a him sometimes."
"And do you send her pictures too?"
"No, dad. I ain't got any pictures of Jenny. But as soon as I get some, I aim to keep'em all for myself!"
Jenny flushed at that, because she knew that Bobby knew he was getting a picture of her in the morning, as soon as Gran unwrapped her present from them all. She was also hoping that this topic was dying down. She had known about Gramma Irene's friend Bruce all along. Gramma Irene has been writing to Jenny ever since they met back in July. They hit it off immediately when Jenny told of her aspirations to act and sing on stage. Lately Irene'd been urging her to transfer to the University of Colorado next fall. She likely will decide to do it, but she hasn't shared that news with her dad yet, and so many things have to be dealt with before she makes her final decision.
Jenny cannot get a grip on how or why she has a friend who is old enough to be her grandmother. When they get to talking, no age barrier is apparent, they are two peas in a pod, two girls who love the limelight, love to hear the applause after they've sung their heart out for an audience. Irene still misses her Sweet Adeline's group from Childress, and intends to find a new chapter in Denver as soon as the bloom is off the rose with Bruce.
She hopes and imagines that eventually, he won't insist on spending so much time with her. He'll find a hobby or other friends. She is beginning to feel a bit smothered by him. On the one hand, he is wonderful to her; he's widowed, and so very lonely. But on the other hand, she needs her own space at times. In her latest letter, Irene asked Jenny what she should do about it.
Jenny has not answered that letter yet, but she has had these very same discussions with girlfriends in high school and now college. And she knows that boys have the same issues sometimes with girls who want to control all of their time, all of their waking moments. Some even go so far as to be jealous of their friends and family. It's over the top, and cannot be tolerated. She will advise Irene to put Bruce on rations. One or two days a week will be the maximum he'll be allowed to see her. This should force him to take her seriously about the situation, and if he's wise, he'll develop some other interests, and friends. He could even take up some volunteer work.
With his skills, he'd make a wonderful mentor to some young boy or girl.
Jenny realized she was off in her own little world when Junior poked her arm and said "Earth to Jen!"
"What?"
"I was saying that Kurt and I have an announcement. Where were you at?"
"Oh, I was just thinking. Go on. What's your announcement?"
Junior and Kurt stood up and clinked their forks on their water glasses to get everyone's attention. Jenny started squirming, swinging her legs and bouncing on her chair in anticipation . . . why else would they both stand up together? Jenny's imagination was way ahead of them!
"Save the date, folks. Next June 5th there will be a wedding at the Methodist Church in Riverton, Wyoming. Kurt has asked me to marry him, and daddy has given us his blessing today. . . so "
Kurt said not a word, and Junior got no further. Everyone began congratulating them and pounding poor shy Kurt on his bony young shoulders.
Until Jack stood up and protested by holding out his hands.
"Hold everything, young lady!"
Everyone gaped at Jack, but he kept a stern expression on his face.
"Aren't you forgetting something? Did you only get the Blessing of One Daddy? Or Both?"
Junior turned to Kurt, and slid her eyes over at Jack . . . so Kurt and Junior walked over to where Jack was standing. Ennis stood up next to him.
Holding Junior's hand in his, Kurt spoke his piece to Jack. "Please sir, may I have the honor of your daughter's hand in marriage?"
Jack hugged Junior to him tightly and whispered in her ear, "You want this guy?" and when she nodded that she did, he released her muttering "Well okay then." Jack looked at Kurt, turned and took Ennis' hand in his own, "We give our blessing for you to marry our daughter. You mind that you take good care a her, or you'll answer to both a us."
Then the congratulations proceeded in earnest. During one relatively quiet moment, Junior asked everyone to take a seat again. She turned to Jenny to ask, "Jen will you do us the honor of singing at our wedding, please? It would mean so much to both of us." There was immediate agreement to Junior's request. "Wild horses couldn't stop me!" she said.
Gran rose and began to pick up her plate, but Ennis and Jack had earlier discussed this point of etiquette. Jack took the plate from his mother's hand, and gently took her elbow. "Mama, why don't you go sit in the living room, while Ennis and I do up these dishes. You have baked and cooked for days if not weeks, and now it's our turn."
And so it was to be. The men did the dishes, and not every plate, bowl and utensil was put away in the wrong place, but many were. Oh well, it is the thought that counts, as any mother can tell you. The young people were entertaining the adults by singing Christmas carols, and leading a sing along while the tree lights smeared the colors of the rainbow across the walls of the rooms.
Jenny had Bobby turn out all the lights except for the tree lights to set the mood for the singing of "Silent Night". Not three lines into the hymn there was some extra curricular kissing and embracing going on out in the kitchen, and soap sudsy forearms went around that man as he held him tightly.
"Merry Christmas, li'l darlin'."
"Best Christmas ever, Cowboy."
"Mama, Ennis and I are gonna call it a day 'n go on home.
We'll see you in the morning for church."
Tbc
A/N: Seems Ennis and Jack still have a few things they want to share with us before going on privately with the rest of their lives. I'm in it for the long haul, as long as they'll let me eavesdrop. Judy